The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-12-16
KANSAS RAILROADS.

KANSAS RAILROADS.
Annual Report OF the Railroad Commits
al0nees-Ra Railroad Buildins In the state.
TOPEKA. Kan, Dec. 0-Thc Kansas State
Railroad Commissioners submitted their
annual report to the Governor yesterday.
The following is q summary OF the report:
To Hon. John A. Martin:
SIR: We have the honor to submit TO you In
pursuance Of the requirements Of the law. this,
the nth annual report of the Board Of Railroad
Commissioners Of this State.
This report embraces the statements and re-
ports of the different companies engaged in tho
operation Of lines OF railroads in this State made
to this Office in pursuance to statutory require
ments and which exhibit in detail the doings in
transportation and the financial result Of rail-
rOrd operations in Kansas for the year ended
June 81, 1885,, and also statistical tables COM
piled from the reports.
The board has from time to time. as oppor.
tunity hns been afforded, inspected the rail-
roads OF the State with view to ascertain
their condition and the manner IN which they
are operated With few minor exceptions,
tt,ey have been kept in good order and condi-
ton. Most Of the new roads built in the State
the past two years have been built in very
substantial manner and with view to their
future economical operation.
Up to November /, 1881. there had been built
during the preceding rart of the year $50 miles
OF new railroads within the State. During the
same period the present year there were $50
miles built. 1t may be interesting to trace the
progress OF railroad building in kansas the PAST
four years.
The total mileage reported to this Office for
the year ended June 30, 1881, including narrow
gauge track and exclusive OF side tracks. was
1856 miles including side tracks. 4.249.
TVpr pIoIT tho, mil neya
Of m lin line in Kansas reported was 4,OsS miles.
Increase OF main tracks for the year, 1873 miles.
Total mileage. including side tracks counted rs
single track, ASA miles. Increase for the year,
225 miles. 1t should be noted that fractions Of
u mile are excluded in these statements.
The total mileage reported for the year ended
June 81, 1885, main line, 4,165 miles. Increase
for the year. 49, miles. Total mileage, includ-
ing side tracks, 4.7JO. Increase. ls6 miles.
Total mileage reported for the year ended
June 30. 1876, 4.703 miles. Increase for the year.
531 miles. Total mileage including side trucks,
a,357 miles. Increase. 90 miles.
Total mileage main line reported for the year
ended June -, 6.5is.99 miles. Increase for the
year. 1S45. 10 miles. Length OF track. including
sidings computed as Single track ss5504 miles,
Increase for the year, 1.9R.31 miles.
1t must be borne in mind that the mileage Of
ficially reported to this Office for the year ended
actually built up to that date, but only SO much
as had been finished and turned over to the
operating department OF the different compa-
MES by whom. or for whom. the same was built.
In railroad building the past two years. Kansas
has led every other State and Territory. AS
Stunning that by the close of the present calen-
dar year the total completed mileage of Kan
sas railroads will equal 5000 miles. it will be
seen that nearly 1000 miles of this hav, been
built within two years.
BESIDES the vast extensions of railroads in
every direction within the State. o work Of di-
rect importance and interest to the people of
Kansas, carried on by parent home corpora
tons, Is rapidly progressing beyond our
boundaries; railway systems having their CEN
ter as it were in Kansas. are extending their
arms into adjacent and even remote States and
Territories-into the South to the Gulf. into
the vast regions OF the Southwest, into Coiora-
do and beyond. The accomplishment of these
great enterprises can not but result in i'm
mense benefit 20 the people of Kansas
Notwithstanding the large increase made to
the railroad mileage of Kansas within the past
two years, the western part of the State is as
yet but meagerly supplied. If that part Of the
State continues to develop and to grow in the
same ratio the next few years as it has in tile
past three-and that it will there can hardly be
q doubt-a very considerable addition to the
railroad mileage will be needed.
The past year, Notwithstanding the falling OF
in agricultural production, has witnessed q very
considerable growth in railroad business and
earnings This is due Il, q measure to the
immense amount of railroad material for new
construction that has been carried over the
roads of the State. upon all OF which the freight
is collected and charged up to the construction
account. The building of watcrworlls and
street car lines. which has proceeded in every
considerable town of Kansas. has also consider
ably swollen the volume OF freight traffic.
These, OF course, can not he depended Oh as
permanent sources OF business and railroad rev.
enue.
The total gross earnings Of all railroads re-
porting to his Office except the SaliEa. Lin
coin & Western. which we have been unable tc
obtain, and which would but slightly vary the
fieures) are:
For the year ended June 20. 1887 ..s71 694 4.4.57
For the year 1856. 62, iGS SJS %
Increase. y 6.Jso.biJ.6t
The net earnings Of all roads compared show:
For 1851. s3l. 80 9.G3
For 1856 ....... ......... ...... 81. 224, Hasa
Net loss Of roads not earning expenses:
For 1887 $ll413sS 80
The total tonnage for the past two years ended
June 3D. 1857, compared:
Number OF tons OF freight carried
over all railroads, 1857. S5s.G
For 1886. 10 fb,5s3
Increase 1877 over 1856. ............ 4,S51.2J.6
OF this increase in tonnage the pa year COM
pared with the preceding year, 4,30.6oi tons
are due to increased demand and consumption
Of manufactures, lumber, the various classes Of
building material, coal and merchandise and
other articles. and hut 5y;r53 tons due to in